By Matija Šerić
October 3rd is celebrated in the Federal Republic of Germany as a national holiday, i.e., German Unity Day. On that date in 1990, West and East Germany ceased to exist and united into a single Germany. At the same time, the division of Berlin ended and the capital became whole again. Today, more than three decades after these fateful events, it is possible to assess what reunification brought to the western and eastern parts of Germany.
Strong differences still exist
In fact, divisions are still visible and strong today. Although the borders exist only in people’s minds, they can be observed across numerous fields—from politics, the economy, and demographics to attitudes toward migrants, healthcare, education, and more. The most striking example of this division is the appearance of Berlin at night from space: yellow lights illuminate the eastern part, while green lights mark the western side of the city.
Many East Germans (Ossis) feel neglected and excluded from the economic prosperity enjoyed by West Germans (Wessis). However, some West Germans accuse their eastern compatriots of complaining while being unwilling to accept change and adapt to new conditions. In 2014, 75% of East Germans considered reunification a success, while in the West that figure stood at only 50%.
The migrant wave reveals differences
The influx of migrants into Germany in 2015 and the years that followed led to major tensions and some of the deepest social divisions. Eastern Germany accepted far fewer refugees than the West, yet most anti-immigrant violence occurred דווקא in the East. This is not surprising, given that before 1990 West Germany was a desirable destination for many foreign workers—so-called Gastarbeiter—from Yugoslavia, Turkey, Greece, and elsewhere. In contrast, East Germany remained largely ethnically homogeneous, as it was mostly closed to foreign labor.
Even after reunification, western parts of Germany remain far more attractive to newcomers due to higher levels of development and better opportunities. In the West, immigrants make up as much as 25% of the population, while in the East this figure ranges from 4% to 9%. Distrust and skepticism toward migrants largely stem from a lack of experience living alongside foreigners.
The rise of the far right in eastern Germany
It is therefore understandable that refugees are less welcome in the East, where far-right parties such as the National Democratic Party (NPD) and the somewhat more moderate Alternative for Germany (AfD) perform well. Members of these parties are often accused of glorifying Adolf Hitler and Nazism. Both parties enjoy significant support in the East, even if this is not always fully reflected in election results.
The question arises: why do radical right-wing movements find support in the formerly communist East? One might expect the opposite. The answer is complex, but it can partly be explained by disappointment in communist ideology, which failed to meet the everyday needs and expectations of ordinary citizens—especially economically. There is nothing worse for a government than empty supermarket shelves and long lines for food, drink, and basic necessities, and that was often everyday life in East Germany.
After the fall of East Germany, capitalism did not meet the population’s expectations either, and the more radical right filled that vacuum. Additionally, after World War II, denazification in the Soviet zone was less thorough, as the Soviets relied on former lower-ranking Nazi officials to help build the secret police (Stasi) and other parts of the security apparatus. Although the NPD did not achieve major electoral success, it became clear that more moderate right-wing options could perform strongly in the East—as demonstrated by AfD in recent years.
Population trends and immigration
After years of migration from East to West—which only recently began to stabilize (in 2012, migration flows in both directions were equal)—many eastern regions, especially rural areas, became depopulated. Between 1991 and 2013, the former East German states lost more than 2 million out of 14.5 million inhabitants. At the same time, the populations of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Schleswig-Holstein grew significantly.
In recent years, however, eastern regions have again recorded higher birth rates than western ones, as was also the case before 1990.
Nevertheless, when combined with projections of overall population decline in Germany (Germans have one of the lowest fertility rates among major EU countries), the influx of 6.5 million immigrants between 2015 and 2025—especially refugees from Syria and Ukraine—could be a long-term advantage for Europe’s leading economic power, provided that social divisions can be overcome.
A more developed West
Many young people from rural eastern Germany have moved to larger eastern cities or to the West in search of better job opportunities and higher wages. This has created a paradox: today, many East German companies import workers from the Czech Republic and Poland.
Western federal states are significantly wealthier than eastern ones. The average household in the East owns less than half the wealth of an average household in the West. Of the 500 richest Germans, only 21 come from the East, and 14 of those are from Berlin. Among the 20 most prosperous cities, only one—Jena—is located in the East. Although some eastern cities such as Dresden, Jena, and Leipzig are experiencing strong growth, property values there are still only about half of those in the West.
Quality of life has improved everywhere
The average salary in the East is about two-thirds of that in the West—the average German net salary is €3,231 per month. The GDP of eastern Germany stands at about 70% of western Germany’s GDP, which represents a huge increase compared to 1990, when it was only 33%.
Cars are a visible indicator of purchasing power: a West German is twice as likely to drive a BMW, while an East German is more likely to drive a Škoda.
The risk of poverty is about 25% higher for East Germans than for their western counterparts. However, life expectancy in the East has increased significantly since reunification. Today, women live equally long in both parts of the country, while men in the East live only slightly shorter lives.
